Abstract: Paris polyphylla Smith var. emeiensis H. X. Yin, H. Zhang & D. Xue, a new variety of Paris from Mt. Emei, Sichuan, China, is described and illustrated. The variety is similar to P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis (Franch.) Hand.-Mazz., but differs by having petioles shorter, 2–5 mm long, leaves narrower, lanceolate, 1.5–2.5 cm wide, pedicels short, 6–10 (–13) mm long, petals filiform, 2–3 cm long, free portion of connective shorter, 0.2–0.5 mm long. The constituent of steroid saponin from the new variety and other varieties of P. polyphylla Smith were compared by HPLC analysis. The main constituents of steroid saponin from the variety yunnanensis and P. polyphylla var. pseudothibetica H. Li were diosgenin glycoside and pennogenin glycoside, respectively. However, steroid saponins from the new variety, P. polyphylla var. polyphylla, P. polyphylla var. stenophylla Franch, P. polyphylla var. latifolia F. T. Wang & C. Yu Chang, and P. polyphylla var. alba H. Li & R. J. Mitchell are trace so as to elucidate the relationship between the new variety and its relative tax

Key words: Paris, Paris polyphylla var. emeiensis H. X. Yin, H. Zhang & D. Xue, Trilliaceae, new variety, steroid saponin, Sichuan, China